We were originally going to have 12" deep upper & base cabinets on the outside pantry wall b/w the FR & Kitchen for our Message Center. But, when several measuring errors by our KD reduced the doorway b/w the rooms from 5.5' to 4', there was no way the cabinets would fit. So, we now have a "Message Center Niche" recessed into the same outside pantry wall. The niche is only about 7" deep and was sized to fit the phone. It actually could have been an inch or so shallower, but since the studs for the wall gave us 7", we went with it. To us, the most critical elements were: Calendar to keep track of sports practices & games, school events, family happenings, project due dates, meetings, etc. [In this picture we had just put the calendar up & had not yet filled it in.] Land line phone & answering machine in a central location...in our case b/w the FR & Kitchen, which also put it central to the Garage entrance & Foyer/front door. This location is not only for answering the phone, but also so we can see if there are messages when we come into the house. During the remodel, the phone & answering machine were relocated to the Office/Library and we often forgot to check for messages. Keys since the Niche is across from the Garage entrance & a pretty straight shot from the Foyer/front door. We need a visible & easily accessible place! [Will be hung from hooks below the calendar frame.] Message pads (sticky notes) & pens/pencils for taking messages/leaving messages. [Yellow sticky note pads are in the pocket at the bottom of the calendar frame.] Charging station for my phone since I will forget it if it's not w/the keys (unplugged when not in use BlueKitObsessed!) [DH's phone & DH/DS/DD's iPods are charged elsewhere since they don't have a problem w/remembering them...and also unplugged when not in use!] What wasn't a priority since we no longer had the cabinets: Magnetic board b/c over the years I've found the best places to leave a message that I want to be sure my DH or kids see are: bathroom mirror if it's for the next morning or TV in the kitchen (DH) or computer screen (kids) if it's for after school/work. B/c of these locations, we use sticky notes. Our garage door is metal so we do keep two "school bus" clip magnets for the various forms that come home from school. Each child has his/her magnet. HTH!

Thnaks for the replies. I was all excited about the microwave drawer until I saw the price - $5-600?!? Seriously! DH would flip! We are already looking for places to cut costs as this build is seriously pushing our budget. The hanging sapcesaver MW is an idea. We'd have to get dimensions and check it out, as that space (under the cabs on that side) was going to be for the coffee maker. I personally like the pantry idea, but not sure DH will go for it. I'll bring it up tho. On the updated plans it looks like the pantry has been whittled down to 4'10 by 5ft and has a chunk taken out of the corner, so I am not sure how much space will be in there. I don't want to get rid of the message center all together. It IS full height (it is going to house slots for mail for each family member, cook books, recycling can underneath for mail recycling, and our cordless phone) and only 12 in deep I think so not sure a MW could go there anyway. I linked the updated plans below. SIGH. This is so hard....all for a stupid MW. Grr. Here is a link that might be useful:

Our kitchen is finished with a full backsplash and there will be no further outlets added. Our laundry room (where I want to put the charger) has all open deep shelves and we have no plans to change those for cabinets (we have much more urgent remodeling to do in this house!). If we put in one cabinet just for this it would look very odd. The only open wall space in the room is over the washing machine and laundry tub, about 4 feet wide and 18 inches high. This is where I want to put the charger, right above the washing machine.

*sigh* I must be sooooo behind the times. Charging stations....I've heard about and seen them and in theory, this would be a perfect solution to all of our sketti wire messes all over the house. The charging pad? WOW....never even knew that existed until now. What a neat concept. Again, in theory this would be perfect. No landline here so everyone has their cell phones, Ipod thingys, earbuds, etc everywhere....wherever there is an outlet that is convenient/within reach, you can almost expect something is charging from it. I didn't want mine wrapped up in everyone elses mess so in my bedroom....where it's the most convenient of all places to charge my cell because I need it "on" and need to be able to hear it in that end of the house even while charging, I came up with a somewhat neat plan to disguise the cell and cord while charging. Actually, I'm sure the plan is everywhere, it's just that I hadn't seen it yet. Yardsale: purchased a sweet, medium-sized oval Shaker Hat Box for a buck. In the back of the box, using a very sharp utility knife, I cut a small square out of the -I think it's like- Balsa Wood. Ran the little plug that goes to my cell through the hole. Plugged my cell in, put cell in box, lid on top. Hat box is on my nightstand. Cord/plug runs out of the back of the box and down my nightstand between bed and nightstand, and into an outlet. You'd never know there was a cell phone charging in that Hat Box. It's much neater looking and less chance of my phone getting tangled up with everyone elses electronics that need charging, in the house. Did the same for Mr. Amity's phone since his whole life seems to be on his nightstand (keys to auto, keys to the shop, keys to storage, nitrate bottle, change, money clip, wallet, glasses, a red tiny chunk of stone kids gave him while in hospital)...it was the most logical place to put it. I had wanted so badly to be 'organized' when we first got the kitchen in a working mode. I set up a surge protector inside a decorative 'empty' book and tried this for 3 weeks....I ended up doing more nagging than anything else. Wasn't worth it as everyone wanted their cells in their bedroom at all times. But the rest of their electronics, they plug in wherever there is an empty plug. *sigh* The Cleavers, The Nelsons, we're not. LOL